Latest Area News Headlines

WORTHINGTON – The Nobles County Commissioners Tuesday evening conducted the annual Truth in Taxation meeting, presenting to the public the budget and levy information for the upcoming year.

The commissioners set a not-to-exceed levy of 7.6 percent in September and have whittled that down further, presenting a 2015 budget that calls for a 5.98 percent levy increase over 2014, with an overall levy of $12,096,602. Proposed expenses for 2015 are estimated at $26.9 million, with revenues projected at more than $14.8 million.

SLAYTON – Glenn “Corky” Kluis was sworn in Tuesday morning as the District 4 Murray County Commissioner to fill the vacancy created when Chairman John Giese died November 16. Kluis had been elected to the position in November and would have taken office in January.

A public hearing was held at 8 a.m. for consideration of the appointment of Kluis, with notification of the hearing sent to officials of the city of Slayton, which is within District 4. None were present for the hearing. Several of the other commissioners did have comments, including Commissioner Gerald Magnus, who had...

WORTHINGTON – Customers of Worthington Public Utilities are going to see an increase in their electric rates for 2015, something the WPU has been talking about for the latter part of this year as unavoidable. The 2015 electric department budget was unanimously approved during Monday’s Worthington Public Utilities Water and Light Commission meeting.

On average, residents will see a 9 to 11 percent increase. Commercial businesses will see a 6 to 10 percent hike and industrial businesses a 6 to 8 percent increase, depending on how much electricity is used.

ADRIAN - The Todd and Lonna Heideman family of Adrian are the focus of a video through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety designed to remind people to teach their children not to play with fire. The video, which was released on a limited basis last week, was released publicly today.

The Heideman’s lost their 10-year old daughter Perri in April when she was killed during a hay bale fire that it is believed she caused while playing with fire.

In the video, which is available on Youtube under the title “From Heartbreak to Helping: Family Hopes Perri’s Story Saves Lives,”...

WORTHINGTON – Now that Thanksgiving is a turkey-scented memory, all thoughts have turned to candy canes, wreaths and Santa. Which means it is time to look forward to the 26th annual Old Fashioned Christmas at Pioneer Village on Thursday and Friday, with activities each night from 5 to 9 p.m.

Santa Claus will be there each evening. Hayrides and entertainment are included, and food and other goods are available on site for purchase. Free bus rides, courtesy of Reading Bus Lines, depart at 6:45 p.m. from outside the village gates each night to view the Christmas lights in Worthington...

WORTHINGTON — All federal, state, county and city offices in Worthington will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving Day. All Worthington financial institutions will be closed Thursday, but will reopen for regular business on Friday. The Worthington Post Office will be closed Thursday, and there will be no mail delivery. Regular hours will resume Friday.

The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce Office will be closed both Thursday and Friday. The Nobles County Library will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday and will be closed Saturday for maintenance.

WORTHINGTON – There will be no interim city administrator in Worthington. The Worthington City Council on Monday voted unanimously to have the seven department heads share the workload until a permanent replacement can be found.

Back in October, after city administrator Craig Clark tendered his resignation, the Worthington City Council established an ad hoc committee to develop a plan for hiring an interim administrator until a permanent replacement could be found. Since each member of the council was interested in being on the committee, Mayor Alan Oberloh picked names out of a...

WORTHINGTON - The Worthington Area Symphony Orchestra will perform Handel’s “Messiah” Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium Performing Arts Center in Worthington. The performance will be comprised of a 55-member orchestra, along with a 70-voice community chorus. Tickets are available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the box office, may be purchased from WASO members or at the door. A reception in the lobby will follow.

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington community Thanksgiving dinner is set to be hosted at noon Thursday at First Lutheran Church, 1200 Fourth Ave. To call...

WORTHINGTON – Time is running out for people to submit excerpts from correspondence sent between military members and their families to the Nobles County Veterans Service Office.

Designed to honor the families of active and veteran members of the military, the Minnesota Military Family Tribute will be the first of its kind in the nation. Poised on the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol Mall, the Tribute will thank those who have made, and continue to make, sacrifices here at home.

The Tribute will consist of three main components, including the Story Stones. The Tribute...

WORTHINGTON — The Worthington Police Department is warning residents of a Microsoft Windows phone call scam. There have been numerous complaints of a caller who tells a resident that they are calling from Microsoft because a virus has been detected on their computer. The caller then asks the resident permission to access the computer to remotely to fix the problem.

Once inside a resident’s computer, the scammer can copy files, install malicious software and gain access to personal information. The most common result is the resident’s computer is infected with a virus from the...